IA Criterion

Stage 2 The written analysis

Significant findings, critical reflection, and evaluation should explicitly draw on the literature review and research. Students should complete a full draft of their written analysis according to the IB guidelines as published in the World religions guide, and plan and develop the work to match the requirements of the assessment criteria. Students might find it useful to mark their own full draft against these criteria.

The written analysis should contain specific and accurate research that is well referenced. It should be challenging and deliver constructive critical analysis. There should be a spirit of inquiry that runs throughout the work. A student may start by describing, but should move through explanation and analysis to reach an interesting, challenging and engaging evaluation.

The guide requires that each student must produce a written analysis (together with a coversheet stating the title of the investigative study and the word count) under the following five headings.

• Rationale and preliminary research
• Plan for study
• Summary of significant findings
• Critical reflection and evaluation
• References and compliance with format

Criterion ARationale and preliminary research

The rationale should include discussion as to why the topic chosen is of significance as an area of inquiry. The discussion of the preliminary research should include the works students have consulted that provide the basis of the literature review for the inquiry. These should include a full range of resources including scholarly works and, if appropriate, scripture.

Students must:

• provide a rationale for the choice of topic for the investigative study
• define the focus of the investigative study, which should be formulated as a question
• outline and justify the range of sources consulted
• select and analyse supporting evidence, showing how this evidence informs the investigative study.

Criterion BPlan for study

The plan for study should provide the reader with an account of how the inquiry was planned and give a step-by-step description with a justification for the plan devised.

Students must:

• clearly state and narrowly focus the research question
• outline the scope and plan for the written analysis
• identify the relationship between the research question and the scope and plan.

Criterion CSummary of significant findings

The summary of significant findings should reflect evidence gathered in the fieldwork and its relationship to the literature reviewed as part of the preliminary research. Thorough referencing to both the fieldwork and the literature should be made by citation to support the findings.

Students must:

• identify and outline significant findings from the investigation through observation, interview, and/or participation
• explain the relationship between research findings and the research question
• discuss the rationale and plan of study in relation to the significant research findings.

Criterion DCritical reflection and evaluation

The critical reflection section needs to show a conceptual awareness of the area of study and how the inquiry undertaken contributes to it. It also needs to reflect on how the study was planned, to what extent that was appropriate, how it might now have been done differently, and what further questions the findings have raised.

Students must:

• critically reflect on the significant findings in relation to the research question
• demonstrate how the investigative study deepens an understanding of religious experiences and/or beliefs
• identify misconceptions and inconsistencies as a result of the research plan and materials used
• understand the degree to which the research was successful in producing significant findings for analysis and justifying future research.

Criterion EReferences and compliance with format

This section is concerned with the formal requirements of word limit, references and the correct format.

Students must ensure that:

• the work is no more than the 1,800 word limit
• the list of references consistently follows a standard format
• the format of the written analysis has been followed as described in the section “The written analysis”.

Students must produce a written analysis of 1,500–1,800 words but no more than 1,800 words. If the word limit is exceeded, the teacher’s assessment of the work must be based on the first 1,800 words. Work that exceeds the stated word count will also be penalized under criterion E. Work that significantly falls beneath the stated range of the word count of the task is likely to receive low marks.

Titles, citations, references and appendices are not included in the word count.